Many history-themed events are going on as fall kicks into full gear. Hopefully a week that featured more than its fair share of soggy, cold weather will warm up for many of these outdoor events. If not, try checking out some of the arts and entertainment listings for indoor events.
Arts and Entertainment
The Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News will host an evening of poetry and a screening of the documentary “Herb and Dorothy” from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday. The poetry starts at 6 p.m. in the Ferguson Gallery, with the movie screening starting at 7 p.m. Admission is $3 per person. See the calendar entry here.
The James River Community Center will host a free night of family entertainment from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. Activities include a free family movie, games, crafts and more. Children must have an adult with them. For more information, see the calendar.
The Warhill High School Drama Department will offer a production of the Oscar Wilde classic “The Importance of Being Earnest” at the school’s auditorium. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. Check out the calendar entry here.
Middle and high school students can participate in the Anime and Cosplay Event from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Williamsburg Regional Library. The free event will feature team anime trivia, anime bingo, candy sushi making, a card game area and a reading area with anime materials. The calendar entry is available here.
The Williamsburg Regional Library’s theater will offer a performance of “The Woman in Black,” a play that has captivated audiences in England for more than 25 years. The spooky play costs $16 for adults, $14 for friends of the library, students and seniors and $9 for those under 16. Tickets can be purchased at the door or reserved at 259-4070. The play runs from 7:30 to 9:55 p.m. Saturday. See the calendar here.
Farmer’s Markets and Festivals
The Toano Farmers Market will run from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and features Bob’s Sausage Company, Rainbow Eggs, Heidi’s Home Grown and many produce vendors. The market takes place at the corner of Forge and Richmond roads in Toano. Don’t miss it. See the calendar entry here.
Yorktown Market Days runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, featuring fresh produce, meat and seafood, baked goods, coffee, specialty cut flowers, quality art and entertainment and more. Children can enjoy hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a hay maze and face painting. The Fifes and Drums of Yorktown will perform from 8:15 to 8:30 a.m. Drop by Riverwalk Landing to check it out. See the calendar listing here.
The Farmer’s Market will go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Williamsburg Pottery. Fresh produce and other items will be sold in the market run by local farmer Wayne Grizzard. The calendar listing is here.
The weeklong Fall Festival at Yankee Candle Village starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and runs through Oct. 20. Daily festivities include painting a pumpkin with Mrs. Claus for $3 and autumn story time with Santa. A Halloween Scavenger Hunt will also allow kids to search the store. See the calendar listing here.
Hicory Neck Episcopal Church will host its 2013 Hickory Neck Church Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The church is located at 8300 Richmond Road in Toano. The festival will feature food, a silent auction, attic treasures, baked goods, arts and crafts. Kids can enjoy a moon bounce, face painting and hay rides. All proceeds will go to area charities. See the calendar entry here.
More than 60 artisan booths will set up shop Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. on the 400 block of Prince George Street for 2nd Sundays Arts Festival. Music will be performed by Runaway String Band, Scott Varney, Jessica Doran, Chris Krehbiel and Joe B. Jones. The event is free. The calendar entry is listed here.
For the History Buffs
Drop by the Holiday Inn Patriot for Military History Weekend starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. You’ll find more than 100 vendors featuring books, toy soldiers, antique weapons, wargames, models and more. Events and workshops will be held, including “Painting Military Miniatures and Toy Soldiers for Adults.” The calendar entry is here.
Lafayette Jones Jr., a descendent of those who lived in the Free Black Settlement at Freedom Park, will lead a presentation and book signing from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Freedom Park on Centerville Road. You can learn about the lives of freed blacks who lived in the area more than 60 years before the Emancipation Proclamation. See the calendar here.
Costumed actors will reenact the Yorktown Tea Party of 1774 from 12:45 to 2 p.m. Sunday. The free re-enactment portrays the protest against Britain’s denial of the rights of colonists in America by heaving chests full of tea into the York River. The calendar entry is available here.
This and That
Helena Mock will present a free seminar called “Planning for the Care of Your Special Needs Loved One” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the James City County Recreation Center. Mock will touch on areas such as setting aside assets for the benefit of a disabled beneficiary without interfering with the beneficiary’s access to government benefits and how parents can plan for the protection of a disabled child. See the calendar entry here.
The men’s charity tennis tournament reception and auction will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Two Rivers Country Club Tennis Courts at Governor’s Land. The event is free for spectators. A silent auction and awards ceremony will be held from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Proceeds will go to Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg. See the calendar entry here.
Come out and participate in the Run for the Hills 10K and one-mile fun run at Wanner Stadium in the Warhill Sports Complex from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m Saturday. The Colonial Grand Prix event contains a challenging combination of roads and trails. The first 800 participants will receive a free t-shirt. All proceeds benefit Beyond Boobs! Inc., a non-profit that helps support young women diagnosed with breast cancer. Tickets are $35 for the 10K and $25 for the fun run. More details are available on the calendar.
Ford’s Colony will host a Parade of Homes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. To register, click here or call 258-4000. Included in the parade are resale and new construction homes, the Eaglescliffe condominiums and a variety of resale home sites. See the calendar entry here.
Make sure your pet has a blessing by bringing it — on a leash or in a carrier — to the Annual Pet Blessing at Southern Virginia Baptist Church from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The event is free, and the church is located at 624 Queens Creek Road. See the calendar here.
